Known as Arizona’s Christmas City, Prescott shows off its holiday spirit in grand style. The area around the Courthouse is home for unequaled holiday festivities that begin in late November. The first is the colorful Holiday Light Parade, where decorated floats and holiday music will have you smiling. To warm up after the evening parade, you can head up to the community bonfire, at Mile High Middle School. The first week of December features the colorful daytime Christmas Parade with more than 75 entries. It involves almost everyone in town. If you’re lucky enough to be here in early December, you’ll always remember when the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza lights turn the dark into a kaleidoscope of holiday colors. This year will be the 64th annual lighting. You’ll join local students, townspeople and visitors in singing traditional Christmas carols. Just up the street two blocks, you’ll enjoy a Frontier Christmas staged by the Sharlot Hall Museum. You’ll be transported back to how pioneers celebrated Christmas. You can hear 100 local musicians — students, local musicians, churches, the community and visitors — during the Acker Musical Showcase the second week of December. Businesses downtown open doors to performers who sing, play instruments and entertain — and invite you to join in. Don’t miss these other Christmas Events — Wild Lights & Animal Sights at Heritage Park Zoo, Enchanted Christmas at Prescott Gateway Mall and Storytellers at Smoki Museum.
Welcome to Arizona’s Christmas City
Nov. 24 — Holiday Light Parade
Dec. 1 — Christmas Parade, Courthouse Lighting, Frontier Christmas
Dec. 7 — Acker Musical Showcase
Dec. 31 — Boot Drop